As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about……more “Idol” chatter! Okay, we haven’t been on the American Idol bandwagon since the reign of Kelly Clarkson, Season I, but we have been watching since the days of Taylor Hicks (with the HUGE, unbelievable, Chris Daughtry upset. Ala Jennifer Hudson; one never knows where the under-dog goes….). My very favorite part is at the beginning of the season, when every nut job in America comes through the judges chambers. Who needs the Marx Brothers or the Three Stooges when you’ve got that kind of fodder?

With the exodus of Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, I was more than a little bit concerned about the potential judges. After Harry Connick Jr’s extraordinarily successful guest spot last season, I thought he would make a thoughtful and fabulous judge (and, he is one of my all time favorite top ten ultimate boyfriends). However, I must admit, despite the fact that I have never been a J-Lo fan, this year’s judges…..ROCK! I adore Steven Tyler, even though he’s kind of working a flakey Paula Abdul thing. He’s so stinkin’ cute, I think it totally works.

We’re down to the final 7. This was a busy week: Songs of the New Millennium;

Scotty “turn the lights down low” Mc Creery is absolutely darling! Seriously, he’s a great throw back country singer who’ll have a deservedly big, big, big career , but I can’t figure out how week after week this kid keeps coming up with country tunes that fit the theme of the week. He must have one lucky horse shoe as he was able to un-Earth Elton “Pin-ball Wizard” John’s one and only country song during Elton John week. This week he brought us a charming, if not hokey version of “Swinging”.

James Durbin has it going on! I have believed since the beginning that he is our 2011 American Idol. In the words of Randy Jackson, not only does he have “mad skills”, he is absolutely charming and adorable. Even though I didn’t quite get this week’s “Uprising” I totally recognize an amazingly talented guy when I see one. As a bonus, he is so likeable and genuine (like when he lost his mind when Hulk Hogan appeared on the show), that unless you are an ogre, your heart just has to melt.

Hayley Reinhart is a survivor. How many times has she been in the bottom three and lived to tell the tale (should Pia and Paul have been so lucky!?!)? I really do like her soulful voice, but her awkward dance moves make me think of Elaine on Seinfeld.

Jacob Lusk? In the immortal words of Aunt Bunny (circa, Eddie Murphy’s Delirious), “Lord, help me Jesus!” This kid is incredible, but, like Scotty, he’s kind of a one trick pony. I love Luther and he does him WELL, but Jacob is not your American Idol.

As much as I hope James wins, Casey is totally my guy. I like ‘em quirky and full of good humor. While with James, Randy was all, “This is the best performance of the night” he should have waited until he heard Casey before he rushed to judgment. Casey sang Maroon 5’s “Harder to Breathe” and it was soulful, jazzy, rockin’ and interesting. I think he’s a true artist. To quote Steven Tyler to Casey, “All men are created equally, but some are more equal than others….” Need he say more?

Stefano “How you doin’?” Langone needs to go home. I love that he channels Joey Tribbiani, and I think he would make a swell Frankie Vali in “Jersey Boys” on Broadway, but to quote Morris Day (of Morris Day and the Time), “You ain’t got to go home, but you’ve got to get the hell out of here!”

In the grand finale was Lauren Alaina. She may have been amazing when she sang with Steven Tyler in the pre-season, but as a show stopper, she has fallen short. Her rendition of Sarah Evan’s “Beautiful” was certainly very nice, but it reminded me of an uninspired Glee episode.

As for your bottom three: Jacob, Stephano and Hayley, any one of them could have gone home, but, alas this was Stephano’s night. He was actually charming and gracious as he made his exit. And why not? He made the Top Ten Tour and he’ll probably get a recording contract (Bucky did).